The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-17
RAYMoND's IRREGULARITIES.
Some Interesting Anecdotes OF the
Dead Actor.
From the New York Times, AprH11.

From the Netp York Times, ApriJ H.
William +. Hayden was the first to re-
ceive the news Of Raymond's death in this
tity yesterday. This news spread rapidly,
and at the Bijou Opera House last night,
where many managers and actors had as
sembled, people talked of nothing but the
popular comedians death. Mr.. Raymond
had been suffering for some three or four
years from heart disease, and last August
while in the Bijou he tainted, causing great
alarm to his friends. No one expected that
his death would come 50 soon, though it was
known that there was a possibility Of his
dying at any moment At the time of Sam
uel Colville's death Mr. Raymond felt ex-
tremely uneasy about himself. The sudden
deceas9 Of the manager IF the Fourteenth
Street Theatre brought wildly to his mind
his own condition. As early as 1858 he was
told he could not live long, though it was
then supposed that his lungs were affected.
He was ordered to go South,
Mr. Raymond was one of the best liked
men in his profession. Every one had a
kind word for him The members of his
company were all greatly attached TO him.
He kept them for five or six years without
change, which is an unusual thing. When
he was forced to part with any Of them he
always took it greatly TO heart. John T.
Raymond's principal hobby was ''match-
ing 1t was a perfect mania with him, and
he seemed to be utterly unable to break
himself of it. On one occasion he was act
ing in California, and on the opening night
he had an enormous house. After the per
folmance was over ne met John McCul-
Tough. He went up to the tragedian and
shook hands
john said he, 'I'll match YOU for the
receipts OF tho house, Mccullough accept
ed They tossed up pennies. Raymond lost,
and John Mccullough was the winner OF
over 81 900.
Once in San Francisco he was to take the
train to New York. So engrossed was he
in matching with friend in the waiting
room for pennies that the train was steaming
out of the station when he suddenly remem-
bered his engagement. He jumped upon
the moving cars just in time to save him
self
Mr. Raymonds mania for matching came
upon him at times almost uncOnSciously
Once he was about to start for Europe, and
strolled into the Office of one of the steam
ship companies down town. He had never
seen the agent before, but he walked up to
him and said in meditative tones: Say,
old man, Ill match you for trip to Eu-
rope"
Raymond liked a practical joke. II was
all the same TO him if his jokes created q
sensation. He cared nothing for those who
saw them. On one occasion he was in San
Francisco with his bosom friend Charles B.
Bishop. now Nat GOodwn's leading man.
They were at the Palace Hotel and were
ascending in a crowded elevator. Raymond
had his wife with him, and the elevator was
filed with ladies. Bishop had an unlighted
cigar in his hand. Raymond saw it and pre-
tended to think it was lighted,
"What do you mean by insulting these
ladies by smoking" he asked Bishop Zero
ciously.
81 am not smoking" said Bishop, who
thought for the moment that Raymond was
in earnest.
Eyes, you are and it's an insult" was the
retort.
81 tell you I'm not,n said Bishop
am throw you out of this elevator pretty
uuicklyn The ladies screamed. The ele-
vator stopped and Raymond, winl1ng at
Bishop, took his arm and exclaimed affec-
tionately: "Ah, you're coming to dine with
me,n leaving the ladies furious
Raymond on Broadway was known and
feared He would think nothing of calling
loudly after friend, and when his sum
mons was obeyed exclaiming: Say, old
man, it's fine day, isn't itp
Raymond was an intimate friend OF. Soth-
ern When he was acting in Paris with that
against the law TO strike match ON the
stage, and Raymond had to tear up the
Trenchard will instead of burning it, He
thought this great shame and complained
to Sothern. oh said Sothern, "burn it.
They won't say anything to you" SotheIn
then went and told the Sergeant de Vile tc
keep an eye on Raymond. That gentleman
struck the match, and to his disnay the pc
liceman marched on the stage and stopped
bod. tl,f
stage he said afterward. 1.-THE Sergeant
didn't know a word Of English and didn't
know a word of French, so that when he got
through with me | didn't know whether
was standing ON my head or heels"
He lived very happily with his present
wife, who was Miss Courtney Barnes, q
daughter of Rose Eytinge. They had one
child, a boy, now three years old, to whom
Raymond was devotedly attached. He
speculated great deal with the profits &C.
fcruing from his imperSonation of Colonel
Sellers, and in the endeavor to build up q
large fortune lost considerable money.
II don't believe" said Mr.. Bishop last
night, 'that he ever told a lie. He did NOT
care whether his truthfulness offended peo-
Pile or not In my opinion, he was one Of
the most straightforward men that ever
livedn
Mrs. Raymond last night, at her house,
East Thirty-second street, was Frustrated
with grief and refused to see even her init
mate friends. She gave instructions that
the body of her husband be sent on imme-
diately to this city Funeral services were
held in the Church Of the TRANSPORTATION on
Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Mr. Raymond was to have opened the sea-
son at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on Aug. &c
in IA Woman Halter"